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International Development and Languages (Chinese, French, Spanish) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

University of Portsmouth

Degree level: Undergraduate

International Development and Languages (Chinese, French, Spanish)

Course options

2024 - 2025
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University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

What does this TEF outcome mean?

Course summary

Overview Work towards fluency in a foreign language (or two) while exploring solutions to global social challenges such as poverty and hunger, environmental sustainability, universal education and health care. On this BA (Hons) International Development and Languages degree course, you'll study one language from beginner's level (French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese) or post-A level (French, Spanish). As of 2021, these three languages are spoken as first or second languages by 1,930 billion people worldwide. You'll also get the chance to learn a second language: French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, German or British Sign Language (BSL). You'll get full support to build your language skills to fluency alongside opportunities to apply your learning to work with not-for-profit organisations in developing countries on placement. You'll graduate prepared for a career in organisations around the globe, in roles such as in government, teaching and working with non-government organisations (NGOs). Course highlights

  • Explore fields of economics, human geography, politics and international relations to find solutions that could include changing policy at a national level, managing relations between governments and developing budgets for sustained advancement
  • Use our professional-grade conference interpreting suite and language labs, where you can manipulate video, sound, text and internet sources
  • Immerse yourself in the cultures of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken – in the classroom, in our Global Café and on your work or study placement abroad
  • Gain on-the-ground experience of community development and protected area management on an optional field trip to Uganda
  • Be taught by staff who are committed to their research in the field, such as Professor Tamsin Bradley whose research is informing schemes to help support women across South Asia in their search for equality
  • Learn from professionals working in the sector
  • Put your expertise into practice in Model United Nations events, in collaboration with fellow students from International Development and International Relations
Careers and opportunities The British Council has stated that "an understanding of other cultures and languages will continue to be important for successful international relationships at all levels" (Languages for the Future, 2017). Along with the language skills you develop on this course, you'll graduate with a confidence in analysis, criticism and argument, communication and problem-solving – skills you can use in your future role advocating for and creating pathways to positive change. You could also go into postgraduate study with a Master’s, or take the next step into research that could inform policy with a PhD. What can you do with an international development and languages degree? This course gives you the skills for careers in areas such as:
  • international community development
  • civil service
  • fundraising, campaigning and advocacy
  • policy development
  • social enterprise
  • corporate social responsibility
  • project management
What jobs can you do with an international development and languages degree? Our graduates have gone on to roles such as:
  • programme management, support and evaluation roles for international agencies and non-governmental organisations
  • fundraising development coordinator
  • human rights advocacy
  • media and digital content lead
  • community development practitioner
  • sustainable sourcing specialist for multinational corporations
  • teacher
Graduate destinations Our graduates have worked for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government departments and companies such as:
  • Save the Children
  • Street Doctors
  • CAFOD
  • the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • the Department or International Development
  • Shelterbox
  • British Chamber of Commerce

Modules

Year 1 Core modules:

  • Critical Thinking and Professional Identity (40 credits)
  • Global Development (20 credits)
  • The Making of the Global South (20 credits)
Optional modules:
  • French Grade 1&2 - General Language (20 credits)
  • French Grade 1&2 - Language in Use (20 credits)
  • Language Project (French) (20 credits)
  • Language Project (Spanish) (20 credits)
  • Mandarin Grade 1&2 - General Language (20 credits)
  • Mandarin Grade 1&2 - Language in Use (20 credits)
  • Spanish Grade 1&2 - General Language (20 credits)
  • Spanish Grade 1&2 - Language in Use (20 credits)
  • French General Language Grade 3 (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 (20 credits)
Year 2 Core modules:
  • Climate Crises (20 credits)
  • The Geopolitics and Geo-Economics of Africa (20 credits)
Optional modules:
  • Analysing Foreign Policy (20 credits)
  • Development and Democracy in Latin America (20 credits)
  • East Asian States and Societies (20 credits)
  • Empire and Its Afterlives in Britain, Europe, and Africa (20 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship in Humanities and Social Sciences (20 credits)
  • French General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1) (20 credits)
  • French General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2) (20 credits)
  • French General Language Grade 4 (20 credits)
  • Gender and Social Justice (20 credits)
  • Global Security (20 credits)
  • Intercultural Perspectives On Communication (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Translation (20 credits)
  • Language for Professional Communication (French) (20 credits)
  • Language for Professional Communication (Spanish) (20 credits)
  • Managing Across Cultures (Fheq5) (20 credits)
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1) (20 credits)
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2) (20 credits)
  • Marketing & Communication (20 credits)
  • Modernity and Globalisation (20 credits)
  • Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis and the Everyday (L5) (20 credits)
  • News, Discourse, and Media (20 credits)
  • Principles of Economic Crime Investigation (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience L5 (20 credits)
  • Puritans to Postmodernists: American Literature (20 credits)
  • Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1) (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2) (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 4 (20 credits)
  • Transitional Justice & Human Rights (20 credits)
  • Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response (20 credits)
  • Working With Languages Today (20 credits)
Year abroad In your third year, you'll spend a year in a country where the main language you're studying is spoken. Year 4 Optional modules:
  • Advanced Language Project (20 credits)
  • Decolonial Politics and Theory in International Relations (20 credits)
  • French General Language Grade 6 (20 credits)
  • Global Capitalism: Past, Present and Future (20 credits)
  • Global Health (20 credits)
  • Independent Project (International Development) (20 credits)
  • Interpreting 1 (20 credits)
  • Interpreting 2 (20 credits)
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 6 (20 credits)
  • Ngos and Social Movements (20 credits)
  • Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates (20 credits)
  • Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience L6 (20 credits)
  • Race, Rights & Development: Global Perspectives On Inequality & Social Justice (20 credits)
  • Religion and Politics in Global Perspective (20 credits)
  • Research Project (20 credits)
  • Rethinking Aid and Development (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 6 (20 credits)
  • Translation Theory & Practice (20 credits)
- Translation Theory and Practice (Chinese) (20 credits)

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through: examinations case studies projects presentations book reviews assignments You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

How to apply

31Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
LR90
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad: UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship)| International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/ug-tuition-fees
International Development and Languages (Chinese, French, Spanish) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS